Original ‘Survivor’ Contestant Dies After Battle with Brain Cancer

B.B. Andersen, who was part of the cast that set off television’s reality phenomenon as part of the first season of “Survivor,” is dead at 77. He passed away on Tuesday in Kansas City, according to an obituary posted in the Kansas City Star, after fighting brain cancer.

According to the paper, he is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jan, and their daughter, four sons and their wives and and eight grandchildren.

On the series, Andersen was voted out second after six days on the island.

In a statement to People, “Survivor” host Jeff Probst said: “B.B. was one of the original cast members who launched Survivor back in 2000. He was a powerful presence on the show and that zest for epic adventure was at the heart of everything he did. I was very saddened to hear of his passing.”

“B.B. was a good man with whom I shared a memorable experience,” season one winner Richard Hatch told the magazine. “My thoughts and condolences go out to his family.”